Roger Taylor : Happiness? A2 / B1 1st Press 1994 Numbered Limited Edition No 0512

This very collectable limited edition album plays to a superb standard with barely any interference.  A full grading is given below but the clarity, depth and warmth of the audio truly is so impressive.  This is a record that has perhaps never been played such is the sonic quality and there is spindle wear on the labels to lend further weight to this theory.  With each passing year it is getting harder to find this album and especially in this condition and at this starting price!  The vinyl has also been so well preserved and is visually stunning to say the least. 

The cover has clearly been very carefully stored over the last 27 years and has hardly been handled in my opinion, it really is in lovely condition.  It has the limited edition low number of 0512 on the back.  The lyric inner is also in superb condition, many would say perfect.  A stunning 'package' all round.

PCSD 157 // A - 1 / B - 2

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T2 Near Mint / T3 & T4 intros Near Mint / T6 Near Mint-) 

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T2 Near Mint) 

The cover is Near Mint

The lyric inner is Mint-
The labels are Mint
Visual grading

The vinyl is in beautiful condition and still has that 'as new' immaculate jet-black glossy sheen.  There are no marks or scratches and only a small number of faint sleeve removal hairlines that you can only locate when you tilt the vinyl at a certain angle under a strong light.  The labels are immaculate with no marking or spindle wear, rarely have I seen a better version.

Play grading  

There are 4/5 crackle type sounds on the lead in grooves but this obviously before the music starts.  The percussive intro on 'Nazis 1994' then plays to near perfection with only one very quiet static tick, it is barely audible!  Roger's opening vocal is faultless and it continues to play with a depth and resonance that is so strong.  It is a very powerful version and there is no actual interference to be heard, just a hint of very light static on the fade out but this is unequivocally a Mint- start to the album.

The piano intro on 'Happiness' plays so clearly with barely any static - ok just a touch more during the 'birdsong' at the end of the intro but still quiet and non-intrusive.  From then on it plays beautifully with only a handful of minor ticks.  The clarity is stunning and these 'ticks' are so quiet and do not impact on the audio quality.  A stunning Near Mint version and even that might be underselling it.

The segue into 'Revelations' is flawless and there is just one very light click soon after the vocal begins.  It is quiet and you could easily miss it!  It then plays with sublime quality for the remainder with a sonic quality that cannot be beaten.  I will grade the intro as Near Mint but the rest easily grades as Mint in my opinion.

The emotive intro on 'Touch The Sky' has just a hint of mega light static at the start and then plays beautifully with only a couple of dust ticks.  As it progresses there is no denying the quality - the power and depth of the audio is fantastic and it demands to be turned up to loud!  There is no interference and in essence it plays 'as new'.  This is a near perfect version - another Near Mint intro and then MINT for the remainder.  What a version!

The classical intro on 'Foreign Sand' plays with a precision you so rarely find today, there is no interference.  The opening vocal also plays so well with no clicks or pops and no underlying static.  I detected only a small number of barely audible ticks, they really are so quiet, and it continues to play with wonderful clarity.  As the percussion comes in the playback is indeed perfect and that standard is kept up as it progresses.  The mid solo is 'as new' and the depth and warmth of the audio is outstanding throughout.  Rarely have I heard such a 'high end' version and it's true to say there is no actual interference from beginning to end.  The powerful end section is flawless and the piano end section plays beautifully with only a couple of mega light dust ticks and this truly is another 'what a version' moment!  One of the classics from the Taylor catalogue and rarely will you find it play with such clarity and precision.  I am confident in grading it Mint- such is the quality.

The long percussive intro on 'Freedom Train' has no 'background' and the only interference across the entire track are a couple of light clicks during the first chorus although I cannot find a reason for this on the vinyl so may even be a pressing fault.  From then on it plays with immaculate precision to the very end - the sonic quality is so good and the 'high octane' end section in particular is phenomenal.  So as you can see there are only two very brief moments of interference and doesn't deserve to be downgraded too much so I think Near Mint- is a fair assessment of the audio.

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'You Had To Be There' only has a couple of dust ticks on th intro and the plays perfectly.  No more needs to be said.  This is a Mint- start to S2 :-)

'The Key' also impresses on every level and again shows why we listen to vinyl.  The clarity, warmth and depth here cannot be replicated by any other medium and there are only 3/4 static ticks on the final piano section.  A couple are a little louder on the final note but this is still worthy of a Near Mint grade.

'Everybody Hurts Sometimes' plays to a superb standard and is so close to perfect with only a couple of static ticks on the fade out.  Mint-

'Loneliness...' has only a couple of dust ticks on the intro and then plays with exceptional quality with no interference of any kind.  The audio here again provides further evidence of a vinyl that has hardly been played.  The sonic quality is STUNNING!  A Mint version.

'Dear Mr Murdoch' is fantastic!  I don't want to sound repetitive but the clarity and depth of the audio is incredible - every note is so clean and precise and yes this is another Mint track.

'Old Friends' ends the album with, you guessed it, impeccable quality from the first note to the last.  No guessing who this song is about, it is 'as new' and brings this superb album to a satisfying Mint close.

In summary this very collectable first pressing is certainly up there as one of the most impressive I have ever heard.  There is only very minimal interference, 3/4 seconds at most, and the clarity, depth and warmth of the music on both sides is incredibly good.  I cannot stress enough just how good in fact!  A low number of 512 perhaps makes it even more collectable and I am convinced the sonic quality will impress any collector!

The Cover & Lyric Inner

The cover is in superb condition with hardly any shelf wear and it is also still very strong and robust which can only mean it has not been handled very much down the years.  The edges are near perfect with barely any 'rubbbing' and the spine is also in great order with only 3/4 tiny white 'specks'.  The corners are so clean with very little wear and the opening edge has next to no handling wear as well.  The front cover is near perfect with only a handful of minor indents in the centre which you can only see when you hold it at a certain angle and still has the original sticker top right.  The back cover is just as impressive if not better and the limited edition number 0512 can clearly be seen top centre.  A superb example.

I am sure many would grade the glossy inner as Mint such is the condition.  The bottom corners have a mega small crease (and when I say small I mean barely visible!) so I will grade as Mint- but perhaps I am just being too critical!  Regardless of that it is stunning!

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

PCSD 157 // A - 1 / B - 2

International buyers may be subject to customs duty or tax - in the case of the E.U. all purchases will be subject to VAT which eBay will collect at point of sale.

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

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